On 27 May the environment secretary Michael Gove launched a review of the national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs), to be led by author and journalist Julian Glover. We welcome this move.

The terms of the review are encouraging. The minister has emphasised that it is not intended to weaken or undermine existing protections or geographic scope, but the aim is to focus ‘on how designated areas can boost wildlife, support the recovery of natural habitats and connect more people with nature’.

The review will consider, among other things, the existing statutory purposes of national parks and AONBs, the alignment of these purposes with the government’s 25-year environment plan, the case for extension or creation of new designated areas, finance, and how to improve governance, the environment and biodiversity.

Advisory panel
There is an advisory panel consisting of Nicola Blackwood (former Conservative MP for Oxford West and Abingdon), Ewen Cameron (chair of the former Countryside Agency), Jim Dixon (former chief executive of the Peak District National Park authority), Jake Fiennes (manager of Holkham estate, Norfolk), Sarah Mukherjee (former BBC and rural affairs correspondent), and Fiona Reynolds (former director-general of the National Trust). There will be no formal sessions with the panel.

Of course, we want to see our designated areas offering exemplary public access. Also, commons feature massively in these landscapes: 79 per cent of England’s commons by area, and 33 per cent by number, are in the national parks and AONBs.

Public benefit
We shall argue for agricultural payments that encourage landowners and commoners to manage the commons for public benefit. And we shall take the opportunity to argue for a national speed limit of no higher than 40 mph on unfenced roads across commons, at least in the designated areas, to support grazing and discourage fencing.

Our evidence will include a call for a toughening of the vague duty on public bodies to ‘have regard to’ national park and AONB purposes, which is too often neglected.
The review is an opportunity to make the designated areas even more worthy of their status.

3 thoughts on “Our treasured landscapes”

As an individual OSS member, I briefly spoke at last year’s AGM about Caring for our Rural Soundscapes. It followed my written submission covering this topic to the House of Lords Select Committee on Management of Rural Affairs. My submission highlighted the rise in background noise in both urban and rural areas. There was a lack of attention even though mention of tranquillity was an objective for designated landscapes. Whilst some change arose from Defra Noise Policy Statement for England seemingly seeking to address large rises in noise from new development, it seems that noise pollution , particularly impact of low sound frequencies are mistakenly omitted from development assessments or in any case rely upon interpretation of national policy mostly avoiding low sound frequencies. For designated landscapes it is of some importance because these low sound frequencies travel further and are more difficult/costly to attenuate yet have a damaging effect upon approeciation of natural beauty.

Further to above, the Court of Appeal is not giving any weight to the tranquillity policy in the AONB Management Plan despite a legal requirement to do so. It points to the need for a supreme court judgement but not yet taken. See Court of Appeal judgement on Goring on Thames Parish Council appeal regarding water turbine.

We the Brent Parks Forum: Support the OSS in the above-mentioned key points. AONB sites need protection that is robust and appropriate. We look forward to the review with interest. Improved Governance with enforcement is essential.